The Dillon tribune., 1887-10-14
ARTHUR.

AnluCus
sereral years ago I lived in narrow
.reet near the Champs Elysecs, known aa
ha passage des Do,lzc Maisons. Picture
- yonrself this silent and deserted corner
II ths faubourg, overshadowed by tho
srandeur Of more aristocratic neighbor-
sood. and its stiffness only interrupted by
Ae occasional noise of rolling carriage.
Year after year, whether from avarice
y Indifference, the owner of the property
VT Il unimproved, in strange contrast to
M BEAUTIFUL surroundings. The low
kuses, with no brighter outlook than
Aeir tiny and neglected gardens, were
most awkwardly built, the steps running
NO on the outside, with here and there
vpden platforms used for the two-fold
purpose Of drying clothes and for afford
g refuge to half starved cats, pet ravens
nd tame rabbits. These tenemcnts were
he homes Of mechanics, of people forced
b practice the direst economy, of artists
the latter attracted by the trees), and
pesr by were some lodging houses Of SO
nan an aspect that the fact of their hav-
hg sheltered misers from time immemo-
i'll seemed loudly proclaimed.
Yet in this immediate vicinity lay tho
Clamps Elysees in all its noisy brilliancy.
There one heard steady roll Of wheels, q
1nstant clanking of harness chains, quick
footsteps upon the pavements, or the
hnvy shutting of gates after some en-
Nhsoned carriage had ratified through
Aem. At times the muffled sound of q
piano, or Of the violins in the Mabille, fell
upon the ear, and, forming Il background
ball. were rows of imposing dwellings,,
gracefully standing out against the sky:
their windows, half shaded by soft, silken
daperies, reflected from their glittering
pnes the gilt Of the candelabra and the
nred hues Of rare and many colored
towers within.
This gloomy Passage des Douze Maisons,
tshted by single street lamp, seemed
lIe side scene of the more brilliant
isghborhood. All that for the moment
Eas superduous to the splendor there.
@urted idleness here; liveried servants.
GOWNS IN costume, a colony of English
|gooms, hostlers from the circus, the two
atte hippodrome riders on their famous
ponies, and one might even see tiny goat
wagons and pretty toy theatres, suggest
Ne Of chlldren's amusement. In the
must Of this, however, a dreary process
|Soa OF blind men, who cleverly converted
eef misfortune into capital, and evening
ssef evening they would wander back to
We alley, carrying their camp stools. ac-
0rdlons and wooden bowls.
Duflng my residence in the street one
.aese poor creatures married, and his
ssoalng was the occasion of a nights
us.tymaklng, a fantastic concert. to
,..s sasa clar1nets, hautboys, organs and ac-
%.ulons tse all contributed, giving forth
sus uose sounds SO familiar to each and every
~mse Of Paris. Quiet usually reigred
s.p1ele IN this quarter, for these street
.assants seldom returned before dusk.
y iI4 ulen indeed with very weary limbs,
y s.s was only on Saturday night, after
n..auf s.s had received his wages, that there
vas any disturbance. -o =
, .n,1ar was my neighbor, A thin wnll.
assaened .,ss.a by tcellis, was all that sen.
ss..s .s!eu my humble lod ging from the room
hsn,. s,ea ~ y. ana his wife occupied. Thus.
a,e in,ma. VI myself, there was the necessary
div l1'.s W. VI proximity, and every Satur-
as:, :. was forced to become the silent wit
| n 11 ,bo " !, horrible drama, so often enacted
Tho rho nc!aes OF our Partisan workingmen.
ama vyptenlng ~ scene was invariably the
| he 1;,a alc woman would be preparing
| 6r ~. hSilner While the children played
nipht M 81 slue. No matter how busy she
tbem tbsn' w. " She always spoke gently to
A ,ho seven O'Clock, s o'clock-nobotlv,
CHANGE ,n9 n1uts passed her voice would
her anv;a.. c, anu stlf1ed sobs seemed to echo
aaparSs s.e.y' aa, Then the little ones, growing
Their f.thel 4nu fearful, would begin to fret.
stbort ,s,aer hi dld not come; they must ent
dsn wonan nlm; By and by these tired chill
Other vaao NV, oeop off to sleep, one after the
tie parro,,. 1u as the mother stepped out on
b, io@ err;o" wooden balcony i could hear
tls Wy. ns!ng bitterly and murmnring co., o.
ThM.e.ca! Tho the wretch!"
laeI hs hnelenoors coming homo SAW on1
Nnaa aer: You had better ~ o ", hoI @
aat he hua' has uo :, You know well enough
a pay das s no ., idea of returning to YOU on
VI tIss ses,;s Meula II follow advice mingled with
In yonr y r., I would not act thus We're
aaster.' p'aee' Why not complain to Ills
srsea to m ms' solt OF commiseration only
gu hoping s"Ae ssd her weep the more, and
ae doors ons sne would patiently wait.
sng closed ttenlng t into the silent alley
nth that naa,,ey na.aaceylng herself alone, and
saser elassolp peculiar indifference 1,f tho
the street ~ VINO live half of their lives
Nd loudly v', ,s She would lean on her @ elbows BOWS
eeooght h,r;late rslate her tale of SUFFERING
sssd idea aas'ng as Concentrated nnnn ne's, 1Ss
sss the ha orot, o. her misery. somet m mes 'it r.